Coin classifying device



Aug. 16, 1966 H. c. KOVAR COIN CLASSIFYING DEVICE Filed Maich 12, 1964INVENTOR. Benz dfifar 4 3,266,611 1C Patented August 16, 1966 3,266,611COIN CLASSIFYING DEVICE Henry Charles Kovar, Anoka, Minm, assignor toThe Cornelius Company, Anoka, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota FiledMar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,423 13 Claims. (Cl. 194-103) This inventionrelates generally to coin classifying devices, and more specifically toa mechanism which may be employed to reject undersized coins.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included invarious coin rejectors, a particularly useful application is made in arejector that requires the sorting out of coins smaller than apredetermined size. By way of example, since l-cent pieces will passthrough any slot receptive of S-cent pieces, this mechanism may beemployed in conjunction with a S-cent coin slot to sort out or rejectl-cent pieces.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a coin classifyingdevice which is therefore operative to reject undersize coins, apreferred embodiment thereof therefore constituting a penny rejector.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coinclassifying device which is capable of separating or sorting coins whichare respectively smaller than and larger than'a predetermined size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an undersize coinrejector which is characterized by a simplicity of structure.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coinclassifying device which will separate pennies from nickels.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet ofdrawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end view, with a cover broken away, of a coin classifyingdevice provided in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line IIIIII ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line IVIV ofFIG. 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodiedin a coin classifying device such as illustrated in FIG. 1, generallyindicated by the numeral 111. The device also comprises an undersizecoin rejector, and in this instance may also be termed a penny rejector.

The coin classifying device It includes a molded or die cast housinggenerally indicated at 11 which has an internal configuration whichcomprises a coin chute or path generally indicated at 12, one side ofwhich is closed by a cover 13. The coin path 12 at its upper end has acoin slot 14 which has a length and width slightly larger than thelargest coin to be received therein. By way of example, the slot 14 maybe sized just slightly larger than a S-cent piece.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the path 12 continues in a downwardly directionso that a coin may move edgewise therethrough under the influence ofgravity. At the lower end of the housing 11, the 'coin path 12 dividesinto a pair of outlets, one of which is generally indicated at 15, andtheother of which is generally indicated at 16. The coin path 12 thus isgenerally of an inverted Y-shape.

' ably being concave.

At a point'along the path 12, located slightly upwardly from where acoin may move toward the one outlet 15 or the other outlet 16, there isprovided a fixed gaging surface 17, the same being disposed along thepath 12, defining a portion of the path 12, and being directed towardthe edge of each coin that moves in the path 12. The fixed gagingsurface 17 is of convex configuration.

Referring to FIG. 2, projecting from the near wall 18 of the housing 11,there is provided a stub shaft 19 which is integral therewith. Pivotallysupported on the shaft 19, is a member generally indicated at 20 whichhas a hub portion which is rockable back and forth on the housing stubshaft 19. The member 20 comprises a lever of the first-class type, andto one end of such lever, there is secured a suitable weight or mass 21which biases the member 20 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2,to a normal position as drawn. The member 20 includes a further portiondirected in a generally opposite direction which terminates in an arm orgaging member 22 which extends through a slot 23 in the wall 18 of thehousing 11, across the path 12, and into a recess 24 in the oppositehousing wall 25. The upper or closed end of the slot 23 determines theextent to which the member 20 may pivot in response to its angular bias.

Referring to FIG. 3, the arm or gaging member 22 has an upwardlydirected gaging surface 26, the same prefer- The surface 26 comprises anarc which is concentric with the convex arcuate fixed gaging surface 17,and which is also con-centric with the pivotal axis of the member 20.

The clearance or space between the fixed gaging surface 17 and theupwardly directed movable gaging surface 26 comprises a gap ofpredetermined size. I have found that to sort pennies from nickels, itis necessary that the magnitude of the gap between the gaging surfaces17 and 22 must be accurately controlled. U.S. pennies have a nominal newdiameter of .750 inch. U.S. nickels have a nominal new diameter of .836inch. For reliable operation, in sorting of such two coins, either newcoins or those which have been worn considerably due to circulation, itis necessary that the clearance between the gaging surfaces 17 and 26 bemaintained at 780:.015 inch.

When a penny or other undersize coin is inserted in the slot 14, itmoves edgewise under the influence of gravity along the coin path 12,past the fixed gaging surface 17 and into engagement with the movablegaging surface 26. Thus, the arm or member 22 is engaged by the edge ofeach coin moving in the path 12. The upper end of the surface 26 isdisposed at one side of the path of cointravel, and thereby engages thecoin oif-center, causing it to rock toward the fixed gaging surface 17,which surface 17 is far enough away to enable the undersize coin to passby. Owing to the fact that the surface 26 is canted or slopes toward theoutlet 15, it acts to cam the coin to such outlet. Since the coin slidesalong the surface 26, or rolls along the same, and since the gap betweenthe gaging surfaces is slightly larger, the coin freely passes this gapof predetermined size, and falls from the arm or member 22 onto asloping deflection surface 27 (FIG. 4) which deflects the same into ahollow chute 28 shown in FIG. 1 which conducts the same to a coin box29, or which may conduct the same to a suitable coin return opening.During this coin movement, even though there may be some slight angularmovement of the gaging arm inherently produced by the kinetic impact ofthe coin, the arm or gaging member 22 blocks the other outlet 16 whichcommunicates with an acceptor cam schematically indicated at 30, which,on operation in a known manner, may discharge coins received therein inthe coin box 29. (If desired, other coin testing or rejection means maybe provided between the outlet 16 and the acceptor cam 30 in a knownmanner.) In the event that the kinetic energy of the falling undersizecoin, at the moment the coin engages the arm 22, should in whole or inpart overcome the bias provided by the weight 21, and slightly move thearm 22, no malfunction would take place as the coin is initially engagedoff center to direct it toward the surface 17, which being concentricwith the surface 26, provides a constant non-wedging gap, even duringany such transient or momentary displacement of the arm 22, whileblocking the path to the outlet 16.

Although coins of a diametrial size less than the size of the gapbetween the gaging surfaces 17 and 22 pass to the outlet 15, since theypass freely through such gap, a larger coin will not pass therethrough.By way of example, if a US. S-cent piece moves through the path 12, itengages the arm or member 22 off center and is rocked against the fixedgaging surface 17, the gaging surfaces 26 and 17 jointly blockingpassage of the larger coin therethrough. However, the mass or weight ofsuch coin acts on the member 22, and is sufiicient to overcome the biason the member 20, thereby enabling the member 22 to move or pivot fromthe position shown in the drawings, to a position where it blocks thepassage to the outlet and unblocks the passage or path to the otheroutlet 16. Thus, the arm or member 22 momentarily supports coins havinga diametral size greater than the gap defined by the surfaces 26 and 17and moves to enable such coin to pass to the outlet 16. The arm ormember 22 in moving from the illustrated position, momentarily thusmoves to a further position where it blocks the outlet 15 and unblocksthe outlet 16.

The transverse length of the arm 22 preferably is sufficient so as toextend across the path 12 and into the recess 24, as described above.This precludes any accidental wedging of a thin coin between the innerend of the arm 22 and the adjacent wall of the housing 11.

In the operation described, the movement of a relatively small coin onthe gaging surface 26 comprises a movement about an axis external to thecoin, the same comprising the center of curvature of the convex surface17. Since this surface is concentric with the pivotal axis of the arm orgaging member 22, the movement of a larger coin while temporarilysupported on the gaging member or arm 22 is likewise thus also about thesame axis since the pivotal axis is concentric with the center of thesurface 17. This latter pivoting or movement of each of the larger coinsis therefore also about an axis exter nal to the coin.

Although various minor modifications might be supgested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed gaging surface along said path and directedtoward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a movable gaging member normally so disposed in said path as to beengaged by the edge of each coin moving in said path,

(1) said gaging member normally defining a gap of predetermined sizewith said fixed gaging surface through which gap each coin, which has adiametral size less than said predetermined gap size, may pass to one ofsaid outlets, and

(2) said gaging member and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyengaged in response to movement in one lateral direction by any fallingcoin which has a diametral size greater than said predetermined gapsize, being jointly operative to support momentarily such coin, and saidgaging member, in response to being engaged by such greater size coin,being returnably movable to a position enabling such coin to move offsaid gaging member by moving in an opposite lateral direction to pass tothe other of said outlets.

2. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed smoothly converging convex gaging surfacedefining a portion of said path and directed toward the edge of suchcoin; and

(b) a movably supported gaging member having an upwardly directedconcave gaging surface concentric with said convex gaging surface, saidmember being normally so disposed in said path as to be engaged at theupper end of said concave gaging surface by the edge of each coinfalling in said path,

(1) said gaging surfaces normally defining a gap of predetermined sizethrough which gap each coin, which has a diametral size less than saidpredetermined gap size, may pass to one of said outlets, and

(2) said gaging member and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyoperative to support momentarily each coin which has a diametral sizegreater than said predetermined gap size, and said gaging member, inresponse to being engaged by such greater size coin, being returnablymovable to a position enabling such coin to pass to the other of saidoutlets.

3. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed gaging surface along said path and directedtoward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a gaging member movably supported in said path, and so disposed asto be engaged by the edge of each coin moving in said path,

(1) said gaging member having a normal position defining with said fixedgaging surface a gap of predetermined size through which each coin,which has a diametral size less than said predetermined gap size, maypass to one of said outlets, said gaging member blocking the path to theother of said outlets in said normal position, and

(2) said gaging member, in response to being engaged with said fixedgaging surface by each coin having a diametral size greater than saidpredetermined gap size, being momentarily returnably movable to afurther position in the path to said one of said outlets in whichfurther position it unblocks the path to said other of said outlets.

4. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means includiing a fixed convex gaging surface defining a portionof said path and directed toward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a gaging member having an upwardly directed concave gaging surfaceconcentric with said fixed convex gaging surface, said member beingreturnably pivotally supported about an axis concentric with said fixedconvex gaging surface, and said gaging memher having a portion sodisposed in said path as to be engaged at the upper end of said concavegaging surface by the edge of each coin falling in said path,

(1) said gaging surfaces defining a gap of constant predetermined size,which gap is pivotable and retains its size during any pivoting, throughwhich gap each coin, which has a diametral size less than saidpredetermined gap size, may pass to one of said outlets when said gagingmember is in a position blocking the path to the other of said outlets,and

(2) said gaging member being pivotal to a further position in which itunblocks the path to said other of said outlets and moves toward saidone of said outlets in response to being engaged 'with said fixed gagingsurface by each coin having a diametral size greater than saidpredetermined gap size.

5. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed convex gaging surface defining a portion ofsaid path and directed toward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a gaging member having an upwardly directed gaging surface, saidmember being returnably pivotally supported about an axis concentricwith said fixed convex gaging surface, and said gaging member having aportion so disposed in said path as to be engaged by the edge of eachcoin falling in said path,

( 1) said gaging surfaces defining a gap of predetermined size, whichgap is pivotable and retains its size during any pivoting, through whichgap each coin, which has a diametral size less than said predeterminedgap size, may pass to one of said outlets when said gaging memberportion is in a position blocking the path to the other of said outlets,and

(2) said gaging member being pivotal to a further position in which itunblocks the path to said other of said outlets and moves toward saidone of said outlets in response to being engaged with said fixed gagingsurface by each coin having a diametral size greater than saidpredetermined gap size.

6. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) a housing having an internal configuration defining a coin pathterminating in two outlets;

(b) a fixed gaging surface within said housing at one side of said coinpath; and

(c) a member pivotally supported by said housing and disposed outsidethereof, and having a coin engaging gaging arm extending through onopening in said housing into said path in such manner as to be engagedby the edge of each coin moving in said path,

( 1) said gaging arm normally defining a gap of predetermined size withsaid fixed gaging surface through which gap each coin, which has adiametral size less than said predetermined gap size, may pass to one ofsaid outlets, and

(2) said gaging arm and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyoperative to support momentarily each coin which has a diametral sizegreater than said predetermined gap size, and said gaging member, inresponse to being engaged by such greater size coin, being returnablypivotable to a position enabling such coin to pass to the other of saidoutlets.

'7. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) a housing having an internal configuration defining a coin pathterminating in two outlets;

(b) a fixed gaging surface within said housing at one said of said coinpath; and.

(c) a member pivotally supported by said housing and disposed outsidethereof, and having a coin engaging gaging arm extending through anopening in one housing wall, across said path, and into a recess in anopposite housing wall at such a location as to be engaged by the edge ofeach coin moving in said path,

( 1) said gaging arm normally defining a gap of predetermined size withsaid fixed gaging surface through which gap each coin, which has adiametral size less than said predetermined gap size, may pass to one ofsaid outlets, and

(2) said gaging arm and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyoperative to support momentarily each coin which has a diametral sizegreater than said predetermined gap size, and said gaging member, inresponse to being engaged by such greater size coin, being returnablypivotable to a position enabling such coin to pass to the other of saidoutlets.

3. A coin classifying device for sorting out smoothedged U.S. l-centpieces from smooth-edged U.S. S-cent pieces, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed gaging surface along said path and directedtoward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a movable gaging member normally so disposed in said path as to bestruck at the point of gaging by the edge of each coin as it falls insaid path,

(1) said gaging member normally defining a gap of .780i.015 inch withsaid fixed gaging surface for passing l-cent pieces 'therethrough to oneof said outlets, and disposed to block the other of said outlets, and

(2) said gaging member and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyoperative to support momentarily each S-cent piece, and said gagingmember being returnably movable in response to such engagement to aposition enabling such S-cent piece to pass to the other of saidoutlets.

9. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) a coin-chute housing having an internal configuration defining acoin path which terminates in two outlets, in which path a coin may moveedgewise under the influence of gravity;

(b) a fixed convex gaging surface integral with said housing anddefining a portion of said path directed toward an edge of such coin;and

(c) a member pivotally supported by said housing and substantiallyentirely disposed outside thereof,

(1) said member having a gaging arm with a gaging surface extendingthrough an opening in one housing wall, across said path, and into a arecess in an opposite housing wall at such a location as to be engagedat its upper end by the edge of each coin falling in said path, said armhaving an upwardly directed concave gaging surface concentric with saidconvex gaging surface and concentric with the pivotal axis of saidmember,

(2) said gaging surfaces defining a gap of constant predetermined size,which gap is pivotable and retains its size during any pivoting, throughwhich gap each coin, which has a diametral size less than saidpredetermined gap size, may pass to one of said outlets when said arm isin a po- 'sition blocking the path to the other of said outlets, and

(3) said member being returnably pivotal to a further position in whichsaid arm unblocks the path to said other of said outlets and movestoward said one of said outlets in response to being engaged with saidfixed gaging surface by each coin having a diametral size greater thansaid predetermined gap size.

10. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed gaging surface along said path and directedtoward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a movable gaging member normally so disposed in said path as to beengaged by the edge of each coin as it falls in said path,

(1) said gaging member normally defining a gap of predetermined sizewith said fixed gaging surface through which gap each coin, which has adiametral size less than said predetermined gap size, may pass to one ofsaid outlets, and

(2) said gaging member and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyengaged by any falling coin having a diametral size greater than saidpredetermined gap size, said gaging member being so moved by a coinfalling into such en agement as to enable such coin to disengagedirectly from said gaging member without rolling on said gaging surface,and to pass to the other of said outlets.

11. A coin classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed gaging surface along said path and directedtoward the edge of such coin; and

(b) a movable gaging member normally so disposed in said path as to beengaged by the edge of each coin as it falls in said path,

(1) said gaging member normally defining a gap of predetermined sizewith said fixed gaging surface through which gap each coin, which has adiametral size smaller than said predetermined gap size, may pass to oneof said outlets, said gaging member being returnably movable, inresponse to any kinetic displacement thereof by such smaller coin tomove said gap toward said one outlet by an amount wherein the path tothe other outlet remains blocked by said gaging member, and

(2) said gaging member and said fixed gaging surface being jointlyoperative to support momentarily each coin which has a diametral sizegreater than said predetermined gap size, and said gaging member, inresponse to being engaged by such greater size coin, being returnablymovable to a greater extent to a position enabling such coin to pass tothe other of said outlets.

12. A coin-classifying device according to claim 11 in which said gagingmember is pivotably supported and swings said gap angularly toward saidone outlet.

13. A coin-classifying device, comprising:

(a) means defining a coin chute having a path terminating in twooutlets, in which path a coin may move under the influence of gravity,said means including a fixed convex gaging surface defining a portion ofsaid path and directed toward the edge of such coin;

(b) a gaging member having an upwardly directed concave gaging surfaceconcentric with said fixed convex gaging surface, said member beingreturnably pivotally supported about an axis concentric with said fixedconvex gaging surface, and said gaging member having a portion sodisposed in said path as to be engaged at the upper end of said concavegaging surface by the edge of each coin falling in said path; and

(c) said gaging surfaces defining a gap of a predetermined size whichsize remains constant as said gaging member is either pivoted by thekinetic energy ofa coin passing therethrough to one of said outlets byan amount wherein the other of said outlets remains blocked by saidgaging member, or pivoted further by a coin too large to passtherethrough to enable the coin to fall toward the other of saidoutlets.

Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,789 3/1911Denton 194-103 1,617,496 2/1927 Paulson 194-103 2,084,943 6/1937Christopher 194103 2,339,681 1/1944 Casey 194103 X 2,580,906 1/1952Frost 194103 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner.

45 S. H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COIN CLASSIFYING DEVICE, COMPRISING: (A) MEANS DEFINING A COINCHUTE HAVING A PATH TERMINATING IN TWO OUTLETS, IN WHICH PATH A COIN MAYMOVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A FIXED GAGINGSURFACE ALONG SAID PATH AND DIRECTF TOWARD THE EDGE OF SUCH COIN; AND(B) A MOVABLE GAGING MEMBER NORMALLY SO DISPOSED IN SAID PATH AS TO BEENGAGED BY THE EDGE OF EACH COIN MOVING IN SAID PATH, (1) SAID GAGINGMEMBER NORMALLY DEFINING A GAP OF PREDETERMINED SIZE WITH SAID FIXEDGAGING SURFACE THROUGH WHICH GAP EACH COIN, WHICH HAS A DIAMETRAL SIZELESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED GAP SIZE, MAY PASS TO ONE OF THE OUTLETS,AND (2) SAID GAGING MEMBER AND SAID FIXED GAGING SURFACE BEING JOINTLYENGAGED IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT IN ONE LATERAL DIRECTION BY ANY FALLINGCOIN WHICH HAS A DIAMETRAL SIZE GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED GAPSIZE, BEING JOINTLY OPERATIVE TO SUPPORT MOMENTARILY SUCH COIN, AND SAIDGAGING MEMBER, IN RESPONSE TO BEING ENGAGED BY SUCH GRATER SIZE COIN,BEING RETURNABLY MOVABLE TO A POSITION ENABLING SUCH COIN TO MOVE OFFSAID GAGING MEMBER BY MOVING IN AN OPPOSITE LATERAL DIRECTION TO PASS TOTHE OTHER OF SAID OUTLETS.